The dearth of horses possessing both stamina and speed on the Indian horse-racing circuit was once more evident on Sunday when just four equines lined up for the Byculla Club Trophy, a prestigious event of yore run over the gruelling distance of a mile and three quarters. The credentials of the Pesi Shroff-groomed mare Chamonix were such that she towered over her opponents and the fact that the race was going to be of academic interest only was a foregone conclusion. PS Chouhan-ridden Chamonix (Dunaden – Beacon Lady) completed the formality without much fuss. She entered the straight abreast of Golden Kingdom, who set the pace from the gates, and took over the running without facing any resistance from the leader. Chamonix checked in well clear of Golden Kingdom, who retained the runner-up berth by a nose from Truly Epic. Kamaria trailed throughout.

Apprentice Navnath Bhosale was in the limelight but for wrong reasons. He was aboard Hosidar Daji-trained Chat, who jumped inwards as the start was given for the Dr I. C. Nagree Trophy and bumped the on-money favourite Scaramanga. Jockey YS Srinath was thrown off the saddle as Scaramanga stumbled. Chat then dictated the terms of the slow-run race till the three horses left in the fray swung into the straight. S. Saqlain-piloted Finch (Ampere – Pointillist) swooped down Chat inside the last two furlongs to assume command and then skipped away for an easy victory. The tale-swishing Alpha Domino laboured hard to catch the winner from trainer Vinesh’s stable but without any success.

Later in the day, Bhosale was involved in a much serious incident. While partnering Son Of A Gun in the Mathradas Goculdas Trophy, Bhosale had little control over his mount when disputing the leadership issue with Amazonia in the home stretch. Son Of A Gun drifted out wide and in his effort to get him back to race on an even keel, Navnath made left-handed use of his whip. Consequently, trainer Narendra Lagad’s ward shifted in. Son Of A Gun first bumped Cellini and then went on to Amazonia whose rider took evasive action to avoid a collision and eased up his mount. The beneficiary of this incident was Faisal Abbas-saddled and Saqlain-steered The Protector (Excellent Art – Mauna Kea), who seized the opportunity and rallied in the closing stages of the race to topple Son Of A Gun in the shadow of the winning post. Son Of A Gun was relegated to the third place after a successful objection lodged by Cellini’s rider Neeraj Rawal. Bazooka Babe came with a late burst to run fourth.

With the on-money favourite Eaton Square withdrawn at the gates as his left fore shoe had come off, Shroff-saddled Impunity made mincemeat of her four rivals in the Truefitt & Hill Trophy. Neeraj settled Impunity behind Fantastic Flare and Zarafat till the heads had turned for home. Impunity went ahead in a trice once the field had straightened and kept extending her lead before being eased up close home. War Hammer finished runner-up ahead of Verdandi and Zarafat. War Hammer collapsed on the way back to the paddock and died.

Three-year old Running Star made ample amends for her debut failure when claiming the YM Chaudhary Memorial Trophy. Yash Narredu pushed Running Star to grab the lead as soon as the gates opened and the bay filly faced no threat thereafter as she graduated from the maiden ranks. There was a yawning gap of nearly eight lengths between Malesh Narredu-schooled Running Star (Excellent Art – Missing You) and her nearest rival Break Point, who moved well in the straight after front-runners Esconido and Amadeo had called it a day. Gambino covered good ground towards the end to run third ahead of Amadeo.

SK Sunderji-nurtured Nolan improved on his previous run and earned a bracket in the hands of jockey R. Ajinkya. Fiery Red and Silver Spring made the initial running with Nolan in close attendance. Ajinkya alerted Nolan (Surfrider – Dancing Jessie) to his task in the home stretch and the top-weighted six-year old unleashed a powerful run to overwhelm Fiery Red with just under a furlong left for the destination. Fiery Red kept the second berth while Attained warmed up late after a lethargic beginning to end third, a neck ahead of Red Merlot.

Before his fall later in the day, jockey YS Srinath had driven Nazzak Chenoy’s ward Liam to fine victory in the curtain raiser. House of Lords showed plenty of speed to grab the initiative at the start and enjoyed the lead till the last half furlong. Liam lacked initial speed and lay at the wrong end of the field till entering the straight. Srinath then drove Liam vigorously which triggered a superb response from his mount. Liam (Planetaire – Swan Maiden) came with a splendid run to wear down both Demetrius and House of Lords close home. Trevor Patel-driven favourite Galloping Ahead was in a striking position behind the leaders but was denied a clear run as he sought to make his bid towards the inner rails in the final stage of the race. He ended fourth.